Three benefits physical therapy can offer during hip surgery recovery

Hip surgery can be focused on addressing many different issues. For instance, end-stage hip osteoarthritis is often treated with hip replacement surgery, and hip labral tears are often repaired during hip arthroscopy surgeries. 

Recovery from hip surgery can take a while depending on the type of surgery you have, and it can typically take three to six weeks before you’re able to do light daily activities following a hip replacement. Fortunately, physical therapy can offer many benefits when used during your hip surgery recovery. 

Physical therapy can offer these three benefits to your hip surgery recovery

Most people want the most beneficial and shortest possible hip surgery recovery process. Physical therapists have the knowledge and techniques at their disposal to help you meet these goals. A few of the benefits physical therapy can offer after hip surgery include: 

1. Increasing hip muscle strength — Some hip surgeries require that hip muscles be moved or cut. As a result, you may need to regain strength in your hip muscles after a surgery. Physical therapists can show you many therapeutic exercises designed to boost hip muscle strength. A study of such an exercise program reports that it helped improve: 

• Hip flexor strength by 24.4%.
• Hip extensor strength by 47.8%.
• Hip abductor strength by 41.2%.

2. Improving postural stability — Postural stability is the ability to maintain good posture at rest or while moving. Unfortunately, hip surgery can reduce your postural stability. But physical therapy can help improve postural stability post-surgery. One study found that a therapeutic exercise program helped patients improve postural stability by 36.8% after hip surgery. 

3. Reducing pain — The damage done to soft tissue in and around the hip by a surgery can cause pain. Often, prescription painkillers are used to reduce post-surgical pain. However, patients can become addicted to these drugs. 

Physical therapists can help you reduce pain, which can help you avoid using prescription pain meds. A study of post-hip surgery physical therapy reveals that it helped decrease hip pain by nearly five points on the visual analogue scale. 

Find effective hip surgery recovery options at Advent Physical Therapy

Are you recovering from hip surgery? Our physical therapists at Advent PT are here to help you get the most beneficial recovery plan possible. We can do a free screening of your hip to determine how far along you are in the healing process. Then, our specialists can build you a personalized post-surgical rehab plan that may include techniques like: 

• Therapeutic exercises
• Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM)
• Dry needling
• Balance training
• Neuromuscular activation
• Manual therapy
• Virtual therapy
• At-home care

Contact our team today for more information about how we can assist you after a hip surgery or to schedule an initial appointment.